Automatic electric control for pumps



Jan. 19, 1932. o. H. -SCHU RLE AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC CONTROL FOR PUMPS F iled Feb. 24, 1930 INVENTOR aliesckurze ATTORN EY V vlces on mechanisms rigatlon Patented .lan. 9, 193 2 UNITEDgS-TATES PATENT orr cs one a. sonnets, or onnoeAmwAsnmeron 'nuromnrrc nrn'orarc oon'rnoniroa ru ns .n iim n filed February 24; 1930. Serial in. 480,808.

This invention appertains to improvements in automatic electric controlled de-. for pumps generally, and more particularly to those types of pumps which 'are designed to operate continuously, over long periods of time, with a minimum danger or liability to break down and without constant attention, such as the pump installations usually employed for ir-' urposes and the'like.

Hereto ore'in the operation of such pump installations or systems, commonly interfered with the desired continuous efliciqlt operation thereof; first, the temporary break down of the power service obtained butmomentarily but nevertheless sufliciently long enough to allow the main control system to open the circuit and stop the motor driving the pump until an attendant discovers the trouble and resets the switch and motor to operative condition; and second, the pump taking in air through several possible places in the installation or system whereby the water will cease to flow, even though the motor and operate and with more or less damage to the 'fore, is to providecompanying drawing,

The. single figure is a diagrammatic and latter. An object of the present invention, therean automatic controldevice which will remedy. these otherwise serious objections and disadvantages in such pump installations or systems, and which will be-comparatively inexpensive and economical in construction, installation, maintenanoe and operation. x

With the foregoing and other equally important objects invention resides in the certaln new and use ful combination, construction and arrangement of parts and circuits as will be hereinafter more fully described, set forth in the appended claims and illustrated in the acin which:

schematical view of the practical emboditwo elements have 'into the momentary contact pump continue to with and advantages in view, the.

ment of the invention as it appears when incorporated in a conventional pump installation or system.

Referring to the drawing, the embodiment of the invention, as shown therein by way of example, includes the pump 10,- the driving motor 11 and the automatic 12, the latter including a starting andstopping button switch 13;

s shown, the rotors of the pump 10 and control switch motor 11 are directly connected or'coupled together by the shaft 14, and water is drawn.

pump -10 'at the inlet 15 and dis-- herefr charged om motor 11 is connecte and 19 to one side of the usual form of magnetically operated switch, and which is, in turn, connected'at its other side by conductors 17', 18" and 19' to one side of the main line control Switch 20., p

t The automatic control provided for in the present invention, for use inconn'ection with the foregoing pump installation, is consti tuted ina small powered motor 21 vequipped a worm 22 on one end of the armature shaft thereof. mesh with a worm gear 23, which is mountt the outlet 16. The

ed on the same shaftwith a pinion (not. .shown). This pinion is disposed in mesh with a large aft with a second in turn disposed larger gear 26. imilarly, the same e pinion 27, whichis arranged with another gear 28, of subsame size as the gear 26. The

m mesh with a shaft with t to be meshed stantially the gear 28 is mounted for movement to and.

from meshing engagement 27 as required and as. fully explained. The gear train thus provided is preferably ratioed whereby the larger gear 26 will operate one revolution perminute.

with the pinion will be hereinafter by connectors 17, 18'

at substantially This worm is disposed in I i 15 f gear 24, which is likewise mounted on the same sh pinion 25, the latter being,

1 switch lever 39 and a stopping switch arm 40 is similarly coil spring 43 against thereof that is opposed The gear 28 is mounted on a shaft 29 on which a lever 30 is also pivoted, at a point intermediate its length, the latter having its lower end stationarily pivoted, as at 31. The lever 30 is normally disposed in a vertical position and has its lower intermediate portion abutting against a projection or lug 32 on the adjacent sidefa'ce of the lower peripheral portion of the gear 28, which rojection or lug 32 is disposed at the outer side edge of the lever 30 opposite to that edge of the same facing the pinion 27. The upper end of the lever 30 is formed to provide an outwardly angled offset portion or arm 30', on which a weight 33 is adjustably mounted. The inner side edge of the lever 30, at a point adjacent the upper angled end thereof, is opposed to the pole magnet 34 whichacts, when properly energized, to pull the lever 30 inwardly from its normal vertical position and thereby move the gear 28 into mesh with the pinion 27. A stop 31 is provided to sustain the lever 30 in its normal position aforesaid.

Mounted at the other side of the gear 28 and radially overlapping the same side face to the lever 30, and in a manner to lie in the path of movement of the projection or lug 32 is an arm 35 forming a part of the switch blades of a master switch composed of the contacts 36 and 37; the arm 35 being pivoted, as at 35, at its outer end.

Cooperative with the projection or lug 38 on one side of the gear 26 is' a starting switch lever 40, which are stationarily pivoted at their outer ends, as at 39' and 40", while their inner ends overlap the adjacent peripheral portion of the gear 26 so as to lie in the path of movement of the projection or lug 38. The starting switch arm 39 is normally tensioned by a coil'spring 41 away from a stationary contact 42, located between and common to the same and the. stopping switch arm 40, and against the projection or lug 38 on the gear 26, while the. stopping tensioned by a the said contact 42.

A stop member 44 is provided at the lower side of the starting switch arm 39 to limit, its position ofinoperativeness under theaction of the spring 41 and to hold the same in position for cooperation with the projection or lug 38 at the proper time.

The operation of the electric motor 21, and consequently of the mechanism just escribed is automatically controlled from a switch device, which, in turn, is controlled by the suction effect at the intake side 13 of the pump 10. This switch device is comprised in a housing 46, preferabl concavoconvex in form which is normal y open at one end and has such end enclosed by a diaphragm 47 over which is a flat cover 46 of an electroa conductor 66 to the which completes the housing. The arch frame 45 is secured with suitable fastenings to the housing 46 in a manner to clamp t e diaphragm 47 and flat cover 46' between the same. The housing 46 is attached to the free end of a pipe section 48 leading to and connecting with the intake 15 of the pump 10.

Projecting outwardly of the housing through the center of the diaphragm 47 and cover 46' is a plunger 49 which is headed at its outer end substantia ly as shown. The inner side of the diaphragm 47 is preferably provided with a boss 47 surrounding the plunger 49. One end of a coil spring 50, on the plunger, is tensioned by an adjustable collar 51 a ainst the'fiat cover. I The outer free end 0 the plunger 49 is opposedto a flat spring contact finger 52 supported from the inner en of a in the side wall of the arch frame 45. Mounted in the center of the end of the arch frame 45 is an adjustable contact member 54 which has its inner end also opposed to the contact finger 52. In the normal position 0 operation, the contact finger 52 is, free of contact with both the plunger 49 and the adjustable contact 54'.

The circuit connections of the motor 21 and the several switch devices aforesaid, are as follows: The contact 36 of the master switch 35 is connected by a conductor 55 to the contact 42 of the automatic starting and stopping switches 39 and 40, and by a conductor 56 to the stop side of the manually controlled button switch 13; while the other contact 37 is connected by a conductor 57 to one terminal of the motor 21, by a second conductor 58 to one terminal of the electromagnet 34 and by a third conductor to a resistance 60, which, in turn, is connected to One terminal of one side of the branch line cont-rolled switch 61, the other terminal of which side of said switch is connected in. on the main line conductor 19'. The remaining terminal of the motor 21 is connected by a conductor 62 to the binding post 53 of the diaphragm switch. A conductor 63 leads from the binding post 53 and connects the remaining terminals of the electromagnetbinding post 53 secured 34, while a conductor 64 leads from the adhragm switch, resistance 65 terminal connected other side of the branch line controlled switch 61; the other terminal of the other side of the latter switch 61 being, in turn, connected to the main line conductor 18'. The pivot 39 of the starting switch lever 39 is connected by starting side of the start and stop switch button aforesaid, while the pivot'45 of the stopping switch lever 40 is connected by a conductor 67 to a proper circuit terminal on the automatic momenother of its circu as thus arranged and insta a 49 resses tary contactswitch it terminals conductor 68 to the bridging of, the button switch 13.

In the operation of the connected by a piece-or blade umping system, led, and assumtches 13, and 61 have been the pump 10 is primed and ready to start a pum ing operation, the forceof the water on t e intake side of the latter is now impressed against the diaphragm 47, so that the same is elevated outwardly of the housing 45, when the lunger the spring contact 52 against the ing that the swi closed and that adjustable contact 54 and the circuit on the I a N motor 21 is completed from main lineconto one side of switch 61, resist;

ance 60, conductor 59, motor switch contact adjusta ance 65, to the other from thence to .the mai turn in a clockwise di and pump 10 will be started, 'tion or lug 38 will then ta ai i 1? h ;m 'ateyuponthestartin upo t epum 10, the action of the w g h the same from the inlet air I readily' start up m itlwill start up and d which completes a ci phragm 47 and .ken between th "PiVOii 31, when the ;strikes the arm or blad switch and opens the circuit at the contacts 36 and 37. This operation, ho

7, conductor. 57, moto r 21, conductor '62, bindin aforesaid in a manner 1;

26 rotates, the project moves against the, st

e arms orlevers 3 ater drawn throng pply pipe 15 creates a vac uum in the pi which reli eves the pressure on the diaallows the circuit to be bro- .adjustable contact 54 will cease to operate.

In the event that the motor 11 fail to start up for any reason, upon the attempted closing on the motor 11, the electro magnet 34 will energized and will exert a pull on the arm or lever 30 to swing the same on its gear 28 will be moved into mesh with the pinion 27 and rotated therefrom in a counter-clockwise direction. The gearing 28 rotates the projection or lug 32 thereon, which new approaches and e 35 of the master when the motor '21 pump 10 and the wever, only two or three and pump. 10

takes place after several efforts at least, to start the motor 11 from the gear 26 have obtained. Duringa prolonged absence of power, the pump 10' may have" lost its p riming or its failure to ay be due to trouble at the compensating sw tch 12, or the line may .be open by the blowing out of a fuse. In

12, the latter having anp'e' connection 48 l e spring contact 52 and the of the circuit 7 such case to start up located an In any case, the ac lug 32 is so syn the master switch is gear 28 is meshed wi the action of it will, of course, be im the pump, until such trou d corrected.

chronized with gear 26 that the ma sufiiciently to caus''t to strike the arm 35.

ssible les are tion of the projection or 7 l 0 ctuated whenever the gear 26, by reason ofet 34, and is rotated e projection or lug 32 1s emergency,

everything will become inoperative and will remain so until the troubl attendant and .the

operative condition. ump 10 should'take in air,

and as a.. to contin ow, if the p while in operation thereof ceases the vacuum in the be broken and the position to again cl the spring contact contact 54, 'Immedi tion of the circuit,

larly lever 40, will opera cause thecircuit on be opened at the line cont pump 10will be stop ed. While e pump 10 is inactive,

when the th m tor 21 and magnet '34 operation, when the In between. the sta to the latter'le e is located byan system restored to an '80 consequence ue to pump water, ipe connection 48 willv iaphragm 47 moved to I ose the circuit between 52 and the adjustable atelyupon the compleis instance, the, mo- Will again come into g 38 on gear; 26, regurt lever 39 and the stop ver and the pump motor 11 to rol ed switch 12,

and t e lug 38 is traversing the circumference between the stop lever 40 and the the pump 10 will b escape through the bleeder p the water discharge bleeder pi 16 e ma the air m the soon as the lug 38 re it will actuate on the pump motor 1 switch 12. soon up again, the circuit on opened at the Ordinarily, the operation by the period of operati which case, the le mal position from the pinion 27; suflicient weight as to resume its s lever 30 is actuated. projection or. lug 38 starting lever, or the are returned to normal of the springs 41 an the lug 38 clears the Without-'fu that the feat vention will be rea portion and minor a small substituted th diaphragm switch 52. pump 10 will be placed in rther description, ures. and

start le ave the er 39 the air in pportunity to ipe 16' and into 9 pipe 16. In lieu of the petcock or the erefor to vent pipe 12 to atmosphere. As

aches the start lever 39,

the same to cause the circuit 1 to be closed at the line as the pump. 10 starts the ma et 34 will otor 11 upon the first of the mechanism, in

ver 30 is returned to norand disen gages the gear, 28

the lug 32 being of a to cause the gear 28 tarting osition each time the pon actuation by, the on the gear 26 .of the stop lever 40, the latter osition by the action 43 just as soon as same.

it is thought advantages of the indily apparent to those skilled in the art, and understood that chan it will of course be gas in ,the form, pro details of construction may be actuating resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or its scope as claimed. 1

I claim:

1. In cOmbination, an electric motor driven pum including a main control switch for the said motor, starting and stop-. ping switches in circuit with said main control switch, motor operated means for said starting and stopping switches, and means governed by the pressure at the intake side of the said pump for controlling the operation of said motor opera-ted means.

2. In combination, an electric motordriven pump including a main control switch for the said motor, starting and stopping switches in circuit with said main control switch, mechanical means for actuating said starting and stopping switches, electrically operated means for operating said mechanical means, and means governed by the ressure at the intake side of the said or controlling the operation of said electrically operated means.

3. In combination, an electric motor driven pump, including a main control 'ated main control switch, startin switch for the said motor, starting and stopping switches in circuit with said main control switch, a gear train for actuating said starting and stopping switches, an electric motor for actuating said means governed by the pressure at the intake side of the said pump for controlling the operation of said last named motor.

4. In combination, aii electric motor driven pump, including a main control switch for the said motor, starting and stop ping control switch, a gear train for actuating said starting and stopping switches, an electric motor for actuating said gear train, and a diaphragm switch governed by the-pressure at the intake side of the said pump for controlling the operation of said last named motor.

5. In combination, an electric motor driven pump, including a magnetically actuated main control switch, starting and stopping switches in circuit with said main switch, mechanical means for actuating said starting and stopping switches, an electric motor for actuating said mechanical means, means governed by the pressure'at the intake side of the said pump for controlling the operation of said last named motor, a master switch, and means for actuating said master switch to open the niain'line circuit upon the failure of the said first named motor to start the pump after several operations of the said starting switch.

6. In combination, driven pump,

an electric motor including a magnetically actuand stoppmg switches in circuit with sai main .switch and electromagnetically gear train, and

switches in circuit with said main switch, mechanical means for actuating said starting and stopping switches, an electric motor for actuating said mechanical means, means governed by the pressure at the intake side of the said pump for controlling the operation of said last named motor, a master operated means for actuating said master switch to open the main line circuit upon the failure of the said first named-motor to start the pum after several operations of the said starting switch.

OTTO H. SCHURLE. 

